A team from Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research – UFZ (Leipzig, Germany) has shown the scale-up of the production of aviation drop-in fuel-like mixtures (mainly n-decane) that are obtained by Kolbe electrolysis of medium-chain carboxylic acids (n-hexanoic acid), which can be derived from biomass. A paper on their work appears in... Read more →

Bosch is now starting the production of new powertrain solutions based on 800-volt technology. This will make recharging faster and provide a further boost for electromobility. The 800-volt version of the inverter is based on silicon carbide semiconductors. These increase efficiency, and thus also range. In the 800-volt variant of... Read more →

Vanner has begin serial production of its latest 17.1 kW, 600VDC to 24VDC liquid-cooled converter with Silicon Carbide Solid-State Switching (SiC) for ZEV and hybrid vehicles. This technology builds on the 300 ampere 600VDC to 24VDC air-cooled converter. Named the Hybrid Beltless Alternator (HBA), the 300-ampere air-cooled converter has been... Read more →

Cologne Bonn Airport has switched to Neste MY Renewable Diesel in its diesel-powered ground fleet. Neste’s renewable diesel (also known as HVO100) is made from 100% renewable raw materials, and it is in particular used for powering large and heavy vehicles such as the airport’s fire trucks, which are not... Read more →

The all-new eSprinter represents the first fully-electric van in North America from Mercedes-Benz USA. The US market will launch the 170" wheelbase cargo version with a high-roof configuration carrying a 113 kWh battery. Starting from $71,886 and offering a WLTP range of up to 400 km (~249 miles), the all-new... Read more →

Hyundai Motor Group signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Korea Zinc. The Group will cooperate with Korea Zinc, Korea’s leading non-ferrous metal smelting company, in a comprehensive collaboration across the nickel value chain. The partnership includes joint sourcing of nickel raw material, processing of nickel raw material, and ensuring... Read more →

The US Department of Energy’s (DOE) Wind Energy Technologies Office (WETO) and Office of Electricity (OE) plan to fund (DE-FOA-0003241) research to drive innovation and reduce costs of high-voltage direct current (HVDC) voltage source converter (VSC) transmission systems. HVDC transmission systems are more efficient than traditional alternating current (AC) transmission... Read more →

Molecular photoswitches that can both convert and store energy could be used to make solar energy harvesting more efficient. A team of researchers has used a quantum computing method to find a particularly efficient molecular structure for this purpose. The procedure was based on a dataset of more than 400,000... Read more →

Zepp.solutions, a Dutch company specialized in hydrogen fuel cell technology, has secured a €1.98-million grant from the European Just Transition Fund (JTF) for the development of a fuel cell systems factory. The factory will be situated in Europe’s strategic transport hub, the Greater-Rijnmond region. With the support of the Ministries... Read more →

Redwood Materials, the battery materials recycling, refining and remanufacturing company founded by former Tesla exec JB Straubel, has raised more than $1 billion in Series D shares. The round which was co-led by Goldman Sachs Asset Management, Capricorn’s Technology Impact Fund, and funds and accounts advised by T. Rowe Price... Read more →

REE Automotive, an automotive technology company and provider of full by-wire electric trucks and platforms, announced that joint testing with HORIBA-MIRA confirms the feasibility of REE’s x-by-wire vehicle control system to pass FMVSS certification requirements. REEcorner x-by-wire REE contracted HORIBA-MIRA, a world-leader in testing, to perform internal tests, modeling certain... Read more →

Vitesco Technologies, a leading international manufacturer of advanced powertrain technologies and electrification solutions and Cebi Group, a specialist in washer systems, are partnering to develop the Advanced Sensor Cleaning System (ASCS). ASCS is a highly integrated all-in-one solution that can keep more than 10 environmental sensors clean with water pressure... Read more →

The US Department of Energy announced $10 million in funding for five projects working on new technologies and tools to reduce the environmental impact of aviation. (Earlier post.) Condensation trails—commonly known as contrails—occur when aircraft exhaust water mixes with cold, surrounding humid air at high altitude. Under certain specific atmospheric... Read more →

Ricardo has supported Winnebago to develop and launch North America’s latest all-electric RV prototype, called the Winnebago eRV2, based on the Ford E-Transit. Winnebago in 2022 introduced the eRV concept, with powertrain developed, integrated and installed by lightning eMotors. (Earlier post.) The eRV2 features a proprietary IonBlade Li-ion 48V house... Read more →

At its annual Technology Summit this week, GlobalFoundries (GF) announced advancements for two of its technology platforms that will support the growing demand for the technologies needed for autonomous, connected and electrified vehicles. The 40ESF3 AutoPro175 technology will be part of GF’s existing AutoPro platform, which provides GF’s automotive customers... Read more →

Ford Pro, the commercial division within Ford Motor Company, revealed new charging hardware added to its suite of end-to-end solutions to help make it easier for commercial customers to transition their fleets to electric. The new Series 2 AC Charging Station 80 amp and expanded DC Fast Charger options are... Read more →

Nuvera Fuel Cells, LLC, a provider of fuel cell power solutions for motive applications, is powering the hydrogen fuel cell reachstacker that Hyster has developed and shipped to the Port of Valencia in Spain. The reachstacker is part of the H2Ports project, which aims to introduce hydrogen-powered vehicles and equipment... Read more →

NEO Battery Materials, a developer of silicon anode materials for longer-running, rapid-charging lithium-ion batteries, announced the latest optimized batch of NEO’s proprietary silicon anode materials, NBMSiDE, has been sent to battery manufacturers and EV automakers for performance evaluation. As announced earlier, further improved formulations with uniform coatings and additives have... Read more →

Forge Nano, Inc., a provider of precision nano-coating technology, and 6K Energy, a developer of critical materials for lithium-ion batteries, signed an agreement to implement commercial-scale production of 6K Energy’s US-made battery materials with Forge Nano’s proprietary Atomic Armor surface technology platform (commercial-scale Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD)). This collaboration will... Read more →

UCL researchers, with colleagues in China, have developed a new frequency-referenced multiplexing method that can provide guaranteed bandwidth and low latency for time-critical applications in the cloud. It could provide connectivity needed for applications of the future such as driverless cars and drone fleets. An open-access paper on the method... Read more →

A collaboration between Kontrol, dSPACE, FEV.io, TÜV SÜD, Microsoft Germany, T-Systems and Berylls is developing a new digital solution for the approval of updates for software-defined vehicles. The new concept for software-update approval via the mobile network, Digital Loop, will be showcased for the first time at IAA Mobility in... Read more →

Porsche is introducing the most powerful model in its SUV model line:the Cayenne Turbo E-Hybrid. The new 544 kW (739 PS) range-topper is distinguished by superior driving performance paired with high efficiency and comprehensive day-to-day usability. The new Cayenne Turbo E-Hybrid Coupé with GT Package focuses even more on driving... Read more →

FuelCell Energy and ExxonMobil Technology and Engineering Company (EMTEC) have agreed to extend their ongoing joint development agreement through 31 March 2024. (Earlier post.) The extension enables further development related to manufacturing scale-up and work towards advancing the carbonate fuel cell technology for point source carbon capture applications against a... Read more →

Intelligent power management company Eaton announced significant investments in its North American manufacturing and operations to support rapidly growing demand for its electrical solutions. The company is expanding manufacturing and bolstering resilience to increase the supply of its solutions for customers in utility, commercial, healthcare, industrial and residential markets across... Read more →

Mercedes-Benz opens its first high-power charging stations this fall, implementing its plans to expand its global charging infrastructure. Starting in October, the first Mercedes-Benz Charging Hubs will go into operation in Atlanta (USA), Chengdu (China) and Mannheim (Germany). By the end of 2024, Mercedes-Benz aims to further expand its global... Read more →

A team at Sandia National Laboratories has developed a molecule that helps change the way some polymer materials react to temperature fluctuations, which makes them more durable. It’s an application that could be used in everything from plastic phone cases to missiles. Polymers, which include various forms of plastics, are... Read more →

Cummins announced approval of its entire line of diesel high horsepower engines across all ratings for use with unblended paraffinic fuels (EN15940), often referred to as renewable diesel, including hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO). Utilizing renewable diesels such as HVO are shown to reduce net greenhouse gas (GHG) emission by up... Read more →

XPENG, a leading Chinese smart electric vehicle company, intends to accelerate the adoption of Smart EVs and technologies through a strategic partnership with DiDi Global. XPENG plans to launch an all-new EV brand in 2024, currently being developed under the project name “MONA”. The company will leverage the new brand... Read more →

A €2.94-million project coordinated by SINTEF seeks to develop and demonstrate a proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyzer stack with increased performance, reduced CAPEX, and increased sustainability compared to current PEM electrolyszer systems. Participating with SINTEF in the UNICORN (“Unlocking the Full Potential of Electrolysis with Next-Generation Proton Exchange Membrane Stacks”)... Read more →

Australian lithium producer, Pilbara Minerals Limited and Australian environmental technology company, Calix Limited, will construct and operate a mid-stream demonstration plant in a joint venture. The project aims to demonstrate the potential to reduce carbon emissions intensity for the hard-rock lithium supply chain via the creation of a high-purity lithium-rich... Read more →

Mineral Resources (MinRes) recently entered into a joint development agreement with Lithium Australia to develop further Lithium Australia’s LieNA technology for the extraction of lithium from fine and low-grade spodumene, improving mining efficiency, sustainability and potential profitability. The LieNA process is essentially a caustic digest of spodumene. In effect it... Read more →

Rio Tinto and First Quantum Minerals have completed a transaction to form a joint venture that will work to unlock the development of the La Granja project in Peru, one of the largest undeveloped copper deposits in the world. (Earlier post.) La Granja is a complex orebody located at high... Read more →

Working with mining machinery is associated with a wide variety of hazards. Collisions between excavators, dump trucks, or caterpillar trucks and people or obstacles are a common cause of accidents. To avoid accidents the drivers must always have the entire area surrounding the vehicle in view. This causes constant stress... Read more →

Researchers from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and the University of Connecticut have demonstrated high-performance metal-supported solid oxide fuel cells (MS-SOFC) with an integrated high entropy alloy (HEA) internal reforming catalyst (IRC) for transportation applications using ethanol and methanol as fuels. A paper on their work is published in the Journal... Read more →

Beep Inc., provider of autonomous shared mobility solutions, and Oxa, an autonomous vehicle software developer, are partnering to deploy vehicles driven by Oxa’s self-driving software product, Oxa Driver, as Beep continues to advance its testing and operations across the United States. Marking UK-based Oxa’s entry into the US market, the... Read more →

Monarch Energy, an energy company focused on decarbonizing the hydrogen production process, is exploring building a $426- million facility in Ascension Parish, Louisiana. The company estimates the proposed facility would use electrolysis to manufacture 120,000 kilograms of hydrogen per day. If the project moves forward as outlined, Monarch Energy expects... Read more →

The BMW Group continues to invest in e-component production at Plant Leipzig and in the future of the site. A leasehold contract has now been signed for an area of land outside the plant premises. The new plot for use by BMW consists of 12 hectares in total, eight of... Read more →

The technology group Wärtsilä selected Corvus Energy, the leading provider of zero-emission solutions for the maritime industry, to supply the battery systems for the Incat Tasmania lightweight Ro-Pax ferry. (Earlier post.) With more than 40 MWh of energy storage, it will be the largest battery system installed onboard a ship—four... Read more →

GKN Aerospace, Marshall, and Parker Aerospace will collaborate under a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to explore liquid hydrogen fuel system solutions for the next generation of zero-emission aircraft. Hydrogen propulsion, whether through fuel cells or combustion, is a pathway for the aviation industry to achieve its ambitious goal of net-zero... Read more →

ZeroAvia signed a partnership agreement with Masdar, one of the world’s leading clean energy companies, to explore hydrogen production and supply at key locations. The partnership with the UAE’s flagship renewable energy company, Masdar, will focus initially on projects in North America and Europe, while also looking at the opportunity... Read more →

Wallbox is working with Kia America to bring bidirectional charging to Kia’s EV9 customers. The companies plan to offer Wallbox’s second-generation DC bidirectional charger, Quasar 2 (earlier post), to Kia EV9 (earlier post)customers starting in the first half of 2024. Wallbox expects Quasar 2 to be the first EV charger... Read more →

The US Department of Energy (DOE) announced up to $30 million to help lower the costs of the onshore production of rare earths and other critical minerals and materials from domestic coal-based resources. (DE-FOA-0002619) According to the US Geological Survey’s National Mineral Information Center, the United States imports more than... Read more →

Technology group Wärtsilä will power the biggest battery electric ship yet built with its battery-electric propulsion system and waterjets. The vessel is a new ferry being built by Incat Tasmania and has been ordered by Incat’s long-term South American customer, Buquebús. With an overall length of 130 meters, the ferry... Read more →

Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO, and corporate advisor RFC Ambrian have co-founded Hadean Energy, a new company to commercialize CSIRO’s tubular solid oxide electrolysis (tSOE) technology. Solid oxide electrolysis (SOE) (earlier post) uses a ceramic cell to split heated steam molecules into hydrogen and oxygen. SOE operates at temperatures above... Read more →

Kia presented its all-electric compact SUV, the Kia EV5, at the Chengdu Motor Show in China. The company had unveiled a concept version of the EV5 at Kia Chinese EV Day in March. (Earlier post.) The Kia EV5 was created to redefine the compact SUV genre with a form shaped... Read more →

Mercedes-Benz is updating the EQB electric SUV for the 2024 model year. First unveiled at Auto Shanghai in 2021, the EQB arrived on the US market in 2022, with the the 2022 EQB 300 4MATIC starting from $54,500 and the EQB 350 4MATIC from $58,050. (Earlier post.) The update features... Read more →

Volkswagen is opening pre-sales in Europe for its ID.7 all-electric sedan (earlier post); customers are now able to order the model in the Pro specification package with a range of up to 621 kilometers (WLTP) at a price of €56,995. With the ID.7, Volkswagen is once again demonstrating the benefits... Read more →

EarthCruiser unveiled the all-electric GMC HUMMER EV EarthCruiser—an overland upfit solution from EarthCruiser. The fully functional GMC HUMMER EV EarthCruiser upfit is making its public debut at Overland Expo Mountain West in Loveland, Colorado. The GMC HUMMER EV EarthCruiser upfit by EarthCruiser features: A carbon fiber EarthCruiser house fully integrated... Read more →

Schaeffler has begun series production of a new mechatronic rear-wheel steering system, bringing enhanced agility on bends and superior inner-city maneuverability to the new electric SUV of a well-known vehicle manufacturer. Schaeffler comes of age as a provider of mechatronic steering systems with its first rear-wheel steering solution. Photo: Schaeffler... Read more →

The Innovative Small E-Fleet (ISEF) set-aside in California’s HVIP will open on Wednesday 30 August. ISEF provides incentives for small fleets that seek to deploy battery-electric or hydrogen fuel cell trucks. Eligible participants must be privately owned or non-profit trucking companies in California with 20 or fewer trucks and less... Read more →